Targeting epigenetics for antimalarial development

Epigenetic regulation is an important means of controlling gene expression in eukaryotes. In the malaria parasite, Plasmodium, chromatin remodelling factors are implicated in diverse aspects of pathogenicity, including the activation of invasion-related genes, the suppression of cytoadherence receptors to preserve immune evasion, and the developmental commitment to transmissible sexual forms. However, current understanding of the roles of specific chromatin modifying factors in the dynamic regulation of gene expression across the different life-cycle stages of this apicomplexan parasite is incomplete. Furthermore, chemical inhibitors developed against essential epigenetic targets provide important tools for probing parasite biology, and could act as starting points for new drug discovery. These genetic and chemical resources will then be used to evaluate the impact of epigenetic regulation on lifecycle transitions of the parasite and the expression of multigene families involved in immune evasion.

Project details

Genetics and Genomics
Product Development
Tools for Elimination

Sep 2023 — Sep 2027

United Kingdom